Zhang Fei, who had just said goodbye to Zhao Xu, was immediately "caught" by Xu Zun, who had been ambushing him for a long time.
"Why are the officials so anxious to find you?"
At this sensitive moment, the emperor suddenly wanted to see Zhang Fei, and Xu Zun was also very worried.
Zhang Fei truthfully informed Xu Zun about Han Qi's letter.
After hearing this, Xu Zun couldn't help but sigh: "Actually, they are right. This three feet of ice will not last in a day. A lawsuit cannot solve the problem."
Zhang Fei said: "This problem may not be solved, but it can solve another problem."
Xu Zun asked: "What's the problem?"
"imperial power."
Zhang Fei said: "Now that there are so many people opposed, if the government still wants to fight and win, it will be like Shang Yang's standing tree to the government."
Xu Zun was still worried, "This moment is not that moment. This will make many people wary of officials, and it may be more gain than loss!"
Zhang Fei frowned slightly: "But if we don't take this step, no one knows what will happen."
In fact, the root of hiding wealth among the people is that the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together.
Since Zhenzong and Renzong, the two emperors have continuously delegated power for different reasons, which is a disguised expression of their willingness for the emperor and scholar-bureaucrats to rule the world together.
In the feudal era, this was really hard-won.
Scholar-officials also defended this hard-won political ecology.
Now that Wang Anshi wants to concentrate wealth in the center, this is actually a kind of centralization. If Wang Anshi can really do it, who can restrict the emperor?
Why can't we increase revenue and reduce expenditure at the same time? This is one of the key reasons.
At this point, there is a sharp contradiction between the two.
Han Qi's letter and Shenzong's own concerns also alluded to this point.
Both sides are testing, and neither wants to break up.
Zhang Fei's charity organization solved Shenzong's worries very well.
Because of this charity, the wealth is still in their hands, not in the hands of the emperor, and it has given them legal status. But in the future, you people can't just talk without practicing, and you have agreed responsibilities.
You can't say that if you don't hand over this money, if something happens, I, the emperor, will be the one to take the responsibility. This is unfair!
In fact, this still maintains the concept of the emperor and scholar-bureaucrats co-ruling the world.
Of course, this is definitely not what Zhao Xu wants. He doesn't want to be Renzong. He wants to be Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. However, the time is not mature enough at the moment and he still needs to be patient.
If this charity can succeed, it will already be a big step forward.
After all, the responsibility is still imposed on them.
As for Zhang Fei, he has only one goal, and this has never changed.
...
The Empress Dowager Cao has been chanting Buddha's name in the harem since she returned the power to the Yingzong.
Not too involved in political affairs.
However, her prestige and status are still important in the court.
Even a cruel person like Empress Dowager Gao now has to serve as a mascot in the harem.
Empress Dowager Gao really came to power only after Empress Dowager Cao and Shenzong died.
This incident has already alarmed the Queen Mother Cao, which shows that they have used all the connections at their disposal.
I am determined to make this lawsuit fail.
But they also underestimated Shenzong's determination.
Pantao Pavilion.
Zhao Xu supported Queen Mother Cao with both hands and walked on the path paved with warm stones.
"The official has lost a lot of weight recently and has to take good care of his body. The government affairs will never be finished." Empress Dowager Cao looked at Zhao Xu and said with great distress.
Zhao Xu said with an aggrieved look: "My grandson is not afraid of being tired, but he is afraid that he has been busy for a long time and still cannot get things done."
Empress Dowager Cao exclaimed: "It seems that the official family has suffered a lot of grievances in the court!"
Zhao Xu said: "Madam, please be fair, what did my grandson do wrong?"
Queen Mother Cao asked: "But because of the tax lawsuit?"
Zhao Xu pretended to be surprised and said: "The eldest lady already knows."
Empress Dowager Cao exclaimed: "This situation has caused a lot of trouble in the city. Even if I hide in the Buddhist hall, I can't be quiet!"
Zhao Xu asked: "I wonder what the eldest lady thinks?"
Empress Dowager Cao smiled slightly and said: "I don't have any opinion. It's just that as an emperor, how can you be so humble? The court collects taxes legally. It's natural. You still have to go to court with them. After hearing this, I became an official." I feel so sad!"
The implication is that it is better not to file this lawsuit. You can simply order direct taxation or direct tax exemption.
Zhao Xu sighed: "To be honest with you, my grandson did this because he didn't want to pay the tenant farmers' taxes."
"Officials are benevolent and righteous, and this is the blessing of all people in the world."
After saying that, Empress Dowager Cao changed the topic and asked: "Then why don't the officials directly issue the order?"
Zhao Xu said: "My grandson originally wanted to directly pardon the taxes of the tenant farmers, but if he did this, he was worried that all the tenant farmers would refuse to pay taxes on this reason. Now the national finance is already unable to make ends meet.
Therefore, the grandson adopted Wang Xueshi's suggestion and resorted to litigation to resolve the matter. Judging from Magistrate Lu's attitude, he will most likely find a way to exempt those tenant farmers from paying taxes while avoiding aggravating the matter.
After all, a lawsuit requires someone to sue. This is different from a government decree. Wang Xueshi sued 108 people. No matter what the final verdict is, it only concerns these 108 people and has nothing to do with other people. Grandson also wants to Use this to intimidate the landlords and wealthy people not to push their limits too far. "
"I see."
Empress Dowager Cao nodded slightly and said: "It's really not easy for officials!" After saying that, she added: "It's time to teach those people a lesson."
Zhao Xu couldn't help but feel elated.
Empress Dowager Cao's support is very crucial.
It turned out that when Empress Dowager Cao heard the news, she thought that the emperor was going to start a war with the big landowners. She had to stop him, because she also came from Qingli. Now that the emperor had just ascended the throne, her wings were not full, and she was not as good as her husband Renzong. , this will mess up the country.
She did not expect that this lawsuit actually has limitations. It is different from the government decree. If you sue one by one, you will be tried one by one. If you are not prosecuted, it will be fine.
The emperor wanted to use this to establish his authority, rather than to escalate the matter, so of course she would not stop it, and her attitude was supportive of Shenzong.
The Empress Dowager Cao had fought with Han Qi several times, and she also knew the virtues of these scholar-bureaucrats. If you were weak, they would be strong, and they would never respect you more.
...
After receiving the support of Empress Dowager Cao, Zhao Xu did not immediately order the Kaifeng Mansion to hear the case. Instead, he chose to remain silent and quietly let people spread the word about Han Qi's letter.
The officials were overjoyed when they heard the news.
Steady, steady!
No suspense!
The Empress Dowager and the three prime ministers all came forward.
If this person can be judged, then there is really something wrong with him.
Even the Kaifeng Mansion thought that this was definitely a dead end, so they didn't examine the paper Zhang Fei handed over.
The key point is that Zhang Fei is not like before. When there is a lawsuit, he retreats at home to practice. He still goes to work as usual at 2:00 and 1:00 every day.
He even had time to discuss with Sima Guang about court assistance.
"Don't you know why Si Lusi delayed?" Sima Guang glared at Zhang Fei angrily.
Zhang Fei said depressedly: "Sister Sima, I am innocent. If they want to blame, blame the king... Ahem, and this is to help the people, and the shop does not take any advantage. The service is free, even if it is revenge. It’s unjustifiable for me to use this as revenge!”
Sima Guang hummed: "First of all, you are not innocent. Secondly,"
He sighed, "If everyone could be reasonable in everything, there wouldn't be so many things. Okay, okay, don't worry, I'll ask someone later."
Zhang Fei chuckled and said, "I actually don't care. I can wait a year. I'm just afraid that this matter will damage the prestige of Sima University Scholars. Then my sin will be great."
"Don't stir up trouble here, or I won't fall for you."
Sima Guang glared at him, but he was also a little angry in his heart. One thing comes to another. It is I, Sima, who is reforming the judiciary, not Wang Anshi. Who are you showing off to?
Thinking of Wang Anshi, Sima Guang asked again: "Wang Jiefu hasn't come to see you recently?"
"No!"
Zhang Fei shook his head, "So I don't have much to do now, but I think it doesn't matter to Bachelor Wang."
Sima Guang asked: "How do you say this?"
Zhang Fei sighed: "He agreed at the beginning that if the fight fails, I will have to return the money to him."
Wang Jiefu actually thought of a way out. It seems that this case really cannot be brought to trial. Sima Guang cooed, but said sarcastically: "This is exactly like Wang Jiefu's style, he is unwilling to suffer any losses."
But as he said this, he suddenly frowned, "By the way! I heard that Wang Jiefu spent 10,000 yuan to ask you to fight this lawsuit."
Zhang Fei said hurriedly: "I am not taking advantage of this. I have sued more than a hundred people, and all of them have status. Ten thousand yuan is not much."
Sima Guang didn't seem to be listening, thinking, where could Wang Jiefu get ten thousand guan, unless...
He thought for a while and suddenly said to Zhang Fei: "You still have to be prepared."
Zhang Fei asked: "What preparations?"
Sima Guang said: "Prepare for this lawsuit."
This old man is really shrewd. Zhang Fei asked humbly: "How do you say this, Grand Master Sima?"
Sima Guang clicked his tongue: "Be prepared for everything. If you really want to fight, you must be careful."
"oh."
Zhang Fei nodded dullly: "I understand."
He knew very well, because Li Bao over there was still searching for evidence, which proved that the lawsuit would definitely still be fought. The emperor's silence was to buy time for Li Bao and the others to search for the evidence of those people.
as expected.
Seven days later, Lan Yuanzhen suddenly appeared in Kaifeng Mansion.
Mr. Lu was surprised, "How can a noble man have time to come to me?"
Lan Yuanzhen smiled and said, "It's no big deal. The officials asked me to ask, how was the trial?"
Lu Gongzhu asked in astonishment: "What kind of eucalyptus?"
Lan Yuanzhen said in surprise: "That's the case with Xueshie Wang! Didn't Xueshie Wang not sue? I haven't heard of it!"
Mr. Lu couldn't help but look at Li Kai who was standing aside. Didn't you pat your chest and say that this case can't be brought to trial? How do you explain it now?
Li Kai looked innocent and stammered to Lan Yuanzhen: "We saw that the officials did not issue an order, so we thought there would be no trial."
Lan Yuanzhen said hurriedly: "What did Li Tongpuan say? The officials said at that time that Kaifeng Mansion would try this case. This matter has been decided. You haven't tried it yet, right? What should I do when I go back?" Pay a favor to the officials!"
Li Kai hurriedly said: "The trial is ongoing, but...it's just that there are too many people. This is the first time that Kaifeng Mansion has encountered this situation. It is too busy for the moment and we have to wait for a while."
Lan Yuanzhen nodded: "Then you have to hurry up, the officials have been waiting."
"Yes Yes Yes."
...
After Lan Yuanzhen left, Mr. Lu scolded Li Kai severely.
Kaifeng Mansion started the review process that day, and also transferred people from the left and right departments to help.
As soon as this news came out, the civil and military officials in the entire court were shocked.
Isn’t it stable?
This...what the hell is going on?
Nothing special happened during this period. This... this is very unpolitical!
However, all the prime ministers were silent, and the silence was really scary.
In fact, Han Qi's letter was not to say that it was wrong to file this lawsuit, but to ask Shenzong if he had thought of a solution, the price to pay and the reward. You have to think carefully about this.
After many days, Shenzong still decided to fight.
This proves that he has thought clearly.
Naturally, Han Qi and Fu Bi would not say anything more.
Watch you perform.
And in the political hall.
Needless to say, Wang Anshi was the one who complained. Chen Shengzhi definitely supported him, and Zhao Bian, who opposed the new law, also supported it. Wen Yanbo and Sima Guang had ambiguous attitudes, and they were not firm in their opposition.
The prime minister and the counselor were silent, proving that they supported the emperor, or at least did not oppose it.
In other words, there is no room for maneuver on this matter.
...
Shen Mansion.
"It seems that the officials are determined to support Wang Jiefu."
Shen Huaixiao frowned.
Tang Ji said anxiously: "What can we do? It's impossible to win."
Shen Huaixiao said: "That's not necessarily the case. Don't forget that we have all the evidence for this."
Du Xiu was a little worried, "Isn't this too risky?"
Cao Han said, "Brother Du, don't worry. It's impossible for just a few of us to do this. In less than half a day, many people will come to us. Then we will discuss what to do. If everyone participates, Well, even if the officials know about it, there is nothing they can do about it."
Shen Huaixiao nodded: "Brother Cao is right! We can't blame us for this. Almost everyone is opposed to it, but the officials still insist on going their own way, so naturally we can't blame us for not obeying the rules."
